Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Results of 5-year RMB HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds tender through re-opening A total of RMB1.25 billion 5-year Government Bonds were offered today. A total of RMB4.955 billion tender applications were received. The bid-to-cover ratio, i.e. the ratio of bonds applied for to bonds issued, is 3.96. The average price accepted is 100.71, implying an annualised yield of 1.529 per cent. Tender results of 5-year RMB HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds:
Tender Date* Calculated as the amount of bonds applied for over the amount of bonds issued.
Note: The yields stated above are annualised yields. For reference, the semi-annualised yields corresponding to the average price accepted, lowest price accepted, and average tender price are 1.524 per cent, 1.551 per cent, and 1.625 per cent respectively. Issued at HKT 17:00
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Results of 7-year RMB HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds tender through re-opening A total of RMB1.25 billion 7-year Government Bonds were offered today. A total of RMB6.010 billion tender applications were received. The bid-to-cover ratio, i.e. the ratio of bonds applied for to bonds issued, is 4.81. The average price accepted is 100.84, implying an annualised yield of 1.656 per cent. Tender results of 7-year RMB HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds:
Tender Date* Calculated as the amount of bonds applied for over the amount of bonds issued.
Note: The yields stated above are annualised yields. For reference, the semi-annualised yields corresponding to the average price accepted, lowest price accepted, and average tender price are 1.649 per cent, 1.669 per cent, and 1.739 per cent respectively. Issued at HKT 17:00
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
RTHK holds Solar Project 2026 Closing Ceremony In her address, Ms Lee said, “Amid a shifting global economic landscape and rapid technological advancement, Hong Kong will seize the opportunities presented by the National 15th Five-Year Plan, channelling our unique strengths into the broader national development agenda and innovation ecosystem. From the digital economy and innovation and technology to cultural and creative industries and professional services, tremendous opportunities lie ahead. These are opportunities that call for a passionate, creative, and committed new generation, just like our Solar Ambassadors, to step up and seize them.”
The Solar Project 2026 was themed “Cultural and Tourism Junior Reporters”. Participating secondary school students took on the role of Solar Ambassadors and engaged in a series of study visits and training activities. These included a study trip to Qianhai, Shenzhen, in late June, accompanied by workshops on digital media production as well as broadcasting and hosting skills; a visit to Xinjiang in early July; and a mid-programme sharing session in late July. At today’s closing ceremony, the Solar Ambassadors shared their learning outcomes through a variety of formats, telling the nation’s story to the world from a youthful perspective. Ms Lee encouraged the Solar Ambassadors to sustain their passion and curiosity, to keep exploring and embrace innovation, and to continuously develop themselves in order to be well prepared to seize future opportunities.
Other guests attending the closing ceremony included Senior Curriculum Development Officer (Personal, Social and Humanities Education) of the Education Bureau Ms Carmen Chan, members of the RTHK Advisory Committee, and representatives from co-organising and sponsoring organisations.
RTHK will produce a special programme, “Solar Project”, to comprehensively document the highlights of this year’s activities. The programme will air on RTHK TV31 for three consecutive Fridays beginning August 28 at 9.30pm.
Solar Project 2026 is jointly organised by RTHK and the Hong Kong Chinese Culture Development Association, sponsored by the B&P Foundation, and funded by the HYAB Funding Scheme for Youth Exchange in the Mainland. Issued at HKT 18:15
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Two incoming air passengers were each sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment by the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts today (August 12) for dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) (Cap. 109).
Hong Kong Customs has been mounting a special enforcement operation to combat illicit cigarette smuggling activities involving air passengers. Two Mainland male passengers aged 48 and 39, arriving in Hong Kong from Vientiane, Laos, via Hanoi, Vietnam, were arrested at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (August 11). A total of about 190 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $850,000 and a duty potential of about $627,000, were seized from their personal baggage.
Customs welcomes the sentences. The custodial sentences have imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflect the seriousness of the offences.
Customs reminds members of the public and travellers that under the DCO, anyone involved in importing, dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080, its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
President Lee Jae Myung on July 31 discussed in a summit with Argentine President Javier Milei bilateral cooperation in crude oil, critical minerals and investment at the presidential office Casa Rosada in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Both sides signed an agreement on double taxation avoidance and a memorandum of understanding on critical minerals cooperation, laying the foundation for a massive evolution in bilateral relations.
President Lee Jae Myung, the first Korean head of state to visit Chile in 11 years, has agreed with Chilean President Jose Antonio Kast on a comprehensive plan for bilateral cooperation focused on modernizing their free trade agreement and reinforcing supply chains for critical minerals. Announcing this after their bilateral summit on July 30 at the presidential palace in Chile’s capital of Santiago, they also pledged to resume high-level exchanges and inject new momentum into their strategic partnership.
President Lee Jae Myung, on a state visit to Brazil, and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on July 27 have agreed to greatly raise bilateral cooperation in supply chains for key minerals, the defense industry, space and cutting-edge sectors in a summit at the presidential office Palace of the Planalto in Brasilia, Brazil. Five months after President Lula’s visit to Korea in February, both leaders signed seven memorandums of understanding and agreed on a future vision for bilateral collaboration.
President Lee Jae Myung in a state visit to Mongolia adopted a joint declaration on July 9 with Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh on a “golden age” of bilateral ties after their summit at the Government Palace in Ulaanbaatar.
President Lee Jae Myung and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store on July 8 in a bilateral summit discussed raising practical cooperation in renewable energy, shipbuilding and maritime sectors, and the defense industry at a hotel in Ankara, Turkiye (Turkey).
President Lee Jae Myung and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on July 8 in a bilateral summit covered postwar reconstruction of Ukraine and security issues at a hotel in Ankara, Turkiye.
President Lee Jae Myung and Romanian President Nicusor Dan on July 8 in their bilateral summit reviewed strategic cooperation in key sectors including the defense industry and nuclear energy at the NATO Summit venue in Ankara, Turkiye.
President Lee Jae Myung and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on June 16 held a bilateral summit at the G7 summit in the French resort town of Evian-les-Bains. They discussed potential cooperation in the defense industry, collaboration in fields like AI and energy, and coordination on global issues.
President Lee Jae Myung and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on June 16 held a bilateral summit on the sidelines of the G7 summit in the French resort town of Evian-les-Bains. Bilateral cooperation in security, energy and natural resources was a key agenda of their talks.
President Lee Jae Myung on June 12 attended his third summit with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the garden of the Villa Madama in Rome. Both leaders held a small group meeting and later signed four memorandums of understanding on reinforcing bilateral cooperation.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government conducted its first large-scale drill at the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area today to prepare for the port’s upcoming official opening.
The exercise mobilised approximately 1,000 civil servants from over 20 departments. It successfully tested the overall management of passenger and vehicular flows at both the port building and the public transport interchange (PTI).
During the drill, participants took various modes of public transport, including franchised buses, short-haul cross-boundary coaches, green minibuses and taxis, to reach the PTI on the second floor of the port building. They then proceeded through the fifth-floor departure hall and the fourth-floor arrival hall before returning to the PTI to leave the port.
Participants and operator-dispatched vehicles conducted cyclical trials involving more than 120 departures to simulate realistic arrival and departure conditions. The trials operations specifically assessed passenger and vehicular flow management, passageway capacity, on-site guidance, traffic control and various supporting facilities.
Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung and Secretary for Transport & Logistics Mable Chan inspected the drill on-site.
Mr Tang noted that the entire drill flowed smoothly and achieved its expected testing objectives through close interdepartmental co-operation. He added that identified areas for improvement will be addressed in subsequent exercises, with larger drills planned for the future to ensure comprehensive preparation for the port’s opening.
Ms Chan stated that this initial drill primarily tested local and cross-boundary public transport services alongside their ancillary arrangements. She highlighted that passengers boarding, alighting, queuing and traffic management all operated smoothly, delivering a positive passenger experience.
The Transport & Logistics Bureau and the Transport Department will continue to refine these arrangements based on user needs.
A wide range of bureaus, departments and public transport operators took part in the exercise. Participants included the Security Bureau, the Transport & Logistics Bureau, the Civil Service Bureau, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Transport Department, the Highways Department, the Immigration Department, the Hong Kong Customs & Excise Department, the Department of Health and the Fire Services Department.
Also participating were the Architectural Services Department, the Electrical & Mechanical Services Department, the Government Property Agency, the Digital Policy Office, the Office of the Communications Authority, the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department, the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department, the Civil Aid Service and the Auxiliary Medical Service.
Meanwhile, the Transport Department confirmed it will continue conducting road and facility testing with operators. Ongoing tasks include evaluating transit routes and facilities, training bus drivers and testing traffic diversions – all of which have progressed smoothly.
The Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to run drills of various scales to assess the capacity of the Huanggang Port and its surrounding infrastructure. It remains in close liaison with Shenzhen authorities to press ahead with preparatory tasks, and the governments of Guangdong and Hong Kong will announce the official opening date once the port is fully ready for safe and smooth operation.
The Housing Bureau announced today that the latest quarterly Composite Waiting Time for Subsidised Rental Housing (CWT) is 4.8 years, a slight increase of 0.1 years from the previous quarter.
This figure is calculated based on general applicants – family and elderly one-person applicants – who were housed to public rental housing (PRH) or Light Public Housing (LPH) in the past 12 months as at end-June 2026, the bureau explained.
It also highlighted that compared with the highest level of 6.1 years before the current-term Government took office, the CWT has been shortened by 1.3 years. It remains lower than the 2018-25 records, and continues to remain under five years.
In the second quarter of 2026, the bureau arranged about 4,400 general applicants to be housed to PRH or LPH. These units included about 720 newly completed PRH flats, about 2,400 recovered PRH flats, and about 1,300 LPH units.
Among the general applicants housed to PRH and LPH units over the past 12 months, the proportion of those located in urban districts and extended urban districts reached 74%. Moreover, 81% of the recovered PRH units were located in urban districts and extended urban districts.
The waiting time for urban districts and extended urban districts is generally over a year longer than that for the New Territories. When factored into the latest calculation, this resulted in a slight increase of 0.1 years in CWT.
The waiting time for PRH units in the urban districts in the past 12 months was about six years.
During the same period, the average waiting time of general applicants who were housed to LPH was three years, while the waiting time for LPH units in the New Territories was only about two years.
Over the past 12 months, the Government’s overall supply of PRH and LPH has risen to about 7,400 units per quarter, which is around double the average quarterly supply of 3,800 units during the three years before the current-term Government took office.
As at end-June 2026, there were about 100,500 general applications for PRH, and about 81,000 non-elderly one-person applications under the Quota & Points System. Compared with the highest level of 156,400 cases and 143,700 cases of general applications and non-elderly one-person applications, the number of applications decreased significantly by over 30% and over 40% respectively.
Among them, the number of non-elderly one-person applicants aged below 30 recorded an even sharper decline of about 60% over the 10-year period, from about 71,500 at end-June 2016 to about 29,500 at end-June 2026. The bureau said this clearly shows that the PRH waiting queue is being reduced.
For the next five years from 2026-27 onwards, the overall public housing production, including subsidised sale flats, PRH and LPH, will be about 196,000 units, around 85% higher than when the current-term Government took office. About 115,000 PRH flats will be completed, reaching the peak in supply.
In respect of LPH, about 19,130 units have been completed, among which about 9,650 units have been fully occupied as at the second quarter of 2026. About 10,670 and 210 units will be successively completed in the remainder of 2026 and early 2027, steadily moving towards the target of completing the construction of about 30,000 LPH units by 2027-28.
The bureau said that, as the PRH applicants who have a longer waiting time are being housed to PRH, the short-term fluctuations in the average waiting time for PRH proved that the Government is effectively tackling the long-standing backlog of waiting cases. The CWT will move towards the target of reducing it to 4.5 years in 2026-27, the bureau added.
President Lai attends reception marking 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Republic of China (Taiwan) and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
On the evening of August 12, President Lai Ching-te attended a reception marking the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. In remarks, President Lai said that since establishing diplomatic relations 45 years ago, Taiwan and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines have always supported one another and walked shoulder to shoulder, upholding the spirit of mutual trust and benefits. The president pointed out that our countries have continued to deepen cooperation in such areas as talent development and infrastructure. He expressed hope that more young people will inject new energy into the collaboration between our nations, sustaining and strengthening our ties.
A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:
It is a great pleasure to join you today to celebrate the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. I once again want to thank Prime Minister Godwin Friday and his wife Mrs. Kathryn Ave Friday for leading a delegation to visit us, demonstrating their deep friendship with Taiwan. I also express my gratitude to all our friends here tonight for consistently supporting the ties between Taiwan and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and for being here to witness this important moment.
We are both maritime countries. We share the universal values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. The distance between us has never been an obstacle to our genuine friendship. Just as Prime Minister Friday pointed out, the international situation has been in a state of constant flux over the past 45 years. The world has faced many challenges. But no matter how things have changed, Taiwan and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines have always supported one another and walked shoulder to shoulder, upholding the spirit of mutual trust and mutual benefit.
Prime Minister Friday and I are both very determined to broaden the horizons of the friendship between our countries as we look forward to an even more brilliant 45 years ahead. In recent years in particular, our countries have continued to deepen cooperation in such areas as industrial exchanges, talent development, and infrastructure. The Arnos Vale Acute Care Hospital construction project, the Youth Farmers Training Project, and the Improving of Livestock Rearing Project have all produced tangible benefits for the Vincentian people and further cemented our friendship. Exchanges and cooperation as well as the affection between our peoples have also grown stronger, making Taiwan and Saint Vincent even closer partners.
The international community is currently confronted by formidable challenges, including expanding authoritarianism, climate change, public health issues, and digital security threats. No country can face these alone. Now more than ever, we understand that democratic partners must unite and work together – not just to advance their national development but to build a more robust international network so that we can jointly safeguard global democracy, peace, and prosperity.
Prime Minister Friday’s visit, which comes as we hold our reception marking 45 years of diplomatic ties, reaffirms that Taiwan and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines hold the same ideals and objectives. We will continue to make progress together as we engage with and embrace the world.
We are gathered here today to celebrate the achievements of our 45 years of diplomatic relations. And there is no one who better exemplifies those achievements than Ambassador Kenton X. Chance. When he presented his credentials to me this year, he told me he had just turned 45 years old, meaning that he was born the same year our diplomatic bonds were forged. In 2006, Ambassador Chance came to Taiwan to study. This year, he returned as ambassador. He is living proof of our bilateral cooperation in education and shows how our friendship has been sustained and gradually strengthened by generation after generation of young people.
Tonight, we are joined by representatives of Vincentian students in Taiwan. I want to tell everyone who came here for studies or exchanges that your participation and dedication all point to a future full of hope for our relations. We look forward to more young people bearing witness to and engaging in diplomatic relations, injecting new energy into the collaboration between our nations. And I hope that all the young people who come here grow to treat Taiwan as a second home, and see us all as one family.
I am convinced that through our joint efforts, Taiwan and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines will not only be able to respond to global changes but also create new opportunities amid challenges. Lastly, on behalf of our government and all the people of Taiwan, may our diplomatic bonds only grow stronger with time. And may you all enjoy success, good health, and domestic happiness.
Also in attendance were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Foreign Investment, and Diaspora Affairs Dwight Fitzgerald Bramble; Attorney General Sarah Louise Mitchell; Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Saint Lucia Ambassador Robert Kennedy Lewis; and members of the foreign diplomatic corps in Taiwan.
The Transport & Logistics Bureau, in collaboration with the Civil Engineering & Development Department, today invited market expressions of interest (EOI) to develop selected land parcels for a modern logistics cluster (HSK Logistics Cluster) in the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area.
The five selected sites, ranging from 3.1 to 5 hectares, were identified following a preliminary market sounding exercise. They comprise three parcels in Zone B, which focuses on e-commerce logistics, one in Zone A, focused on high-value goods logistics, and one in Zone C, which focuses on freight forwarding and the low-altitude economy.
Development will be implemented in phases with Zone B forming the first batch. The three parcels within Zone B will become available by late 2027 or early 2028 at the earliest. If combined, they can cater to larger-scale development. The single land parcels in Zones A and C will be made available at a later stage.
Through this EOI exercise, the Government aims to gauge industry interest in developing the first five available sites within the HSK Logistics Cluster. It is also seeking views on the proposed development terms, infrastructure requirements, development scenarios, land disposal options and financial viability.
The feedback collected will help the Government formulate the land lease terms and development mode.
The deadline for EOI submissions is noon on November 13. A briefing session will be held on September 11, with details available on the HSK Logistics Cluster webpage.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
SCED: Hong Kong as go global platform creates vast opportunities for both Mainland and Malaysian businesses The visit is one of the outbound missions organised by the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global (GoGlobal Task Force) under Mr Yau’s steer to enable Mainland enterprises looking to go global to visit overseas markets to gain a better understanding of the local market situation.
In the morning, the delegation attended a business seminar cum networking lunch organised by Invest Hong Kong. The event provided a platform for connecting the visiting Mainland delegates with potential Malaysian partners across sectors and for exchanging experiences among Mainland enterprises, local and Hong Kong business leaders and professional service providers on unlocking cross-border opportunities through Hong Kong.
Delivering his opening remarks at the event, Mr Yau said that Hong Kong has always been serving as a “super connector” and a “super value-adder” connecting the East and the West, and bringing together both capital and opportunities. With this strategic role, coupled with the many strengths of Hong Kong, the city is prepared to serve as the ideal springboard linking the Mainland and Malaysia.
On this note, Mr Yau shared with participants the work of the GoGlobal Task Force, set up last October to assist Mainland enterprises in expanding into overseas markets, including Malaysia, through Hong Kong, and the vast opportunities for Malaysian businesses and industries to join hands with Mainland counterparts wishing to establish a presence in Malaysia.
“For instance, Malaysian business and professional service providers will benefit from the new demand for services from incoming Chinese Mainland enterprises. Enterprises from both countries can form joint ventures and partnerships to jointly expand businesses in Malaysia and across the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region, or reciprocally venture into the Chinese Mainland market,” he noted.
“The key is that, we see new opportunities arising from collaboration and investment from Chinese Mainland companies, and this collaboration will translate into stronger bonding and mutual benefits that will be a win-win outcome for both countries.”
Other guests attending the seminar included the Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry of Malaysia, Mr Sim Tze Tzin; the Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), Mr Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid, and the Director-General of Investment Promotion, Ms Alpha Lau. The Commissioner for Belt and Road, Mr Nicholas Ho, also attended and moderated a cross-professional forum.
Witnessed by Mr Yau and Mr Sim, Invest Hong Kong signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with MIDA to enhance co-operation on the sidelines of the seminar. Members of the delegation also exchanged two MOUs with local enterprises and chambers of commerce separately.
In the afternoon, the delegation visited Ant International, and met with Senior Vice President of the company and the Chief Executive Officer of Antom, Mr Gary Liu, to learn more about its latest development, particularly its innovative digitisation solutions empowering SMEs in Malaysia and also Mainland companies going global. Both sides also exchanged views on fostering partnership between Mainland and Malaysian enterprises via Hong Kong as a platform.
The delegation then proceeded to visit Hong Leong Manufacturing Group, one of the country’s largest diversified conglomerates engaging in automotive, semiconductors and building materials businesses, where they met and had an exchange with the President of the Group, Mr Kwek Leng San, to learn more about the group’s latest business strategy and the local market situation.
In the evening, Mr Yau had a dinner meeting with the Deputy Minister of Finance of Malaysia, Mr Liew Chin Tong, to get an update on the latest economic development of Malaysia and exchange views on strengthening co-operation between Hong Kong and Malaysia, and ASEAN as a whole amid the change in the global economic landscape.
Mr Yau will attend the signing ceremony of an MOU between the Hong Kong Competition Commission and the Malaysia Competition Commission tomorrow (August 13) before returning to Hong Kong. Issued at HKT 19:45